A coalition of NGOs is pressuring the Penang government to table a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill at the upcoming state legislative assembly sitting.

The Bill aims to institutionalise and facilitate public access to information from state authorities.

freedom of information The group, which calls itself the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), handed over a six-point memorandum to state exco member Ng Wei Aik at Komtar.

The document is based on resolutions adopted by about 200 participants at a forum themed ‘Why a Freedom of Information Act?’ held in Penang last month.

CGG representative Pa Khim Ghee said the group has set up a legal panel to study a similar proposal for a FOI Bill to be tabled at the Selangor state assembly in August.

"After the study is completed, we will give recommendations to the state, taking into account adaptations for the Penang situation," said Pa after handing over the document.

Group: Embrace openness

Ng Eng Kiat, another representative of the coalition, urged both Penang and the federal government to "free the rakyat from the chains of secrecy by embracing the openness transparency provides".

"If a government truly puts people first, it has no reason to put the rakyat last when it comes to getting information," he added.

suaram penang survey 250309 spokeperson engkiat Eng Kiat ( right ) said if a government is serious about ‘performing now’, it cannot continue ignoring calls for the abolition of anti-democratic laws such as the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

"And so, when it comes to being accountable, competent and transparent, a government has to be judged by its acts, not rhetoric," he said.

"The onus, hence, is on a government to make information available, regardless of whether this has been requested."

Wei Aik, who received the memorandum on behalf of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, reiterated the administration’s support for the Bill.

However, Wei Aik, who is Komtar assemblyperson, said the state is also duty-bound to heed the advice of its legal adviser.

Constitutional crisis

The state legal adviser, appointed by the attorney-general, has reportedly told the Penang administration that it would not be proper to enact the Bill.

"Even though we have differences of opinion, we must heed the advice of the state legal adviser," said Wei Aik, adding the state constitution stresses the role of the legal adviser.

"If not, it will create another constitutional crisis (as had happened in Perak)."

However, he expressed hope that the Selangor state assembly will pass its Bill to set a precedent for Penang to follow.